PHOENIXVILLE >> Norristown was primed to strike first Friday night. The Eagles had 1st-and-goal at Phoenixville’s 2-yard line in a scoreless game early in the second quarter.
Illegal substitution, delay of game and illegal shift penalties turned that situation into 1st-and-goal at the 17. After three plays failed to get into the end zone, they lined up for a 36-yard field goal to get on the board first.
Phoenixville junior Kevin Kingsbury had different plans. He came flying off the right end and blocked the kick. Hayden Tenbroeck scooped the ball up inside the 10-yard line and took it all the way to Norristown’s 19.
The Phantoms didn’t score on the ensuing possession, but they flipped field position, scored later in the quarter and dominated the second half to pick up a 35-0 win at Phoenixville Area High School.
“I knew I could get the ball,” Kingsbury said. “I was quick off the snap. I jumped and thought I missed it at first, but it hit my foot. It was big, it was a big play.
“It definitely changed the momentum of the game. (Norristown) had some momentum. That blocked field goal and return by Hayden – that was a big play. It changed the momentum.”
“That kept us from having to come from behind,” Phoenixville coach Anthony Ciarlello said. “One hundred percent that was the moment we needed in the first half just to breath a little bit.”
Phoenixville (3-1) went four-and-out after the blocked kick, but followed by forcing a Norristown (0-4) three-and-out. Kingsbury’s punt return gave his team the ball at Norristown’s 40.
The Phantoms put together a six-play drive – all from the full house formation. Deacon Williams carried the ball five times for 20, including a two-yard touchdown with 1:47 until halftime, while Darius Watson had a 14-yard run on the go-ahead possession.
“The seniors now are all guys who were in this program since they were Future Phantoms since middle school,” Ciarlello said. “They’ve spent the last six years of their lives – whether it’s the seniors, juniors or even sophomores – in that weight room. They truly have. I like that formation because that proves that what they’ve spent their time doing pays off.”
“It’s a certain formation we have and we really want to pound the rock,” Williams said. “It’s been our bread and butter. We’ve just been executing and our offensive line is doing a great job. The running backs, the full backs are doing a great job lead blocking.”
Phoenixville scored four touchdowns on four possessions in the second half. Samuel Moore ran for a 23-yard touchdown, quarterback Ty Romance connected with Jackson Ford and James Lear III for 32 and 29-yard touchdowns, respectively, and Watson ran for a three-yard touchdown to make it 35-0 late in the fourth quarter.
Williams led the rushing attack with 93 yards while Moore added 70 yards and Watson 65. As a team, they carried the ball 37 times for 227 yards and three touchdowns.
“The strength of our team is the trenches,” Williams said. “The offensive line has done an amazing job this year. We’re just running behind that offensive line and we’re going to keep following them. They’re going to lead us and the coaching staff did a nice job drawing up plays.”
The defense posted a shutout and held Norristown to 156 total yards. They allowed two long drives – Norristown’s first two possessions of the game. The first time Kingsbury grabbed an interception near his own endzone and the second ended with the blocked field goal.
Meyon Ferrell led Norristown’s rushing attack with 25 yards while Jayden Byrd caught three passes for 30 yards.
Phoenixville 35, Norristown 0
Norristown 0 0 0 0 – 0
Phoenixville 0 7 14 14 – 35
Scoring
Second Quarter
PHX – Deacon Williams 2-yard run (Ryan Jacobson kick) 1:47
Third Quarter
PHX – Samuel Moore 23-yard run (Ryan Jacobson kick) 8:18
PHX – Jackson Ford 32-yard reception from Ty Romance (Ryan Jacobson kick) 1:46
Fourth Quarter
PHX – James Lear III 29-yard reception from Ty Romance (Ryan Jacobson kick) 9:59
PHX – Darius Watson 3-yard run (Ryan Jacobson kick) 1:03
TEAM STATISTICS
NOR PHX
First downs 11 17
Rushes-Yards 21-42 37-227
Passing yards 114 77
Total yards 156 304
Passing 9-26-1 3-10-0
Punts 3 1
Fumbles-Lost 3-0 0-0
Penalties-Yards 11-66 7-57
INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
RUSHING
NOR: Amir Montanez 4-9; Meyon Ferrell 9-25; Marcello Pabon Jr. 2-3; Marzon Carr 3-6; Brendan Farrel 1-(-7); Rashon Giddens 2-6.
PHX: Samuel Moore 9-70, TD; James Lear III 1-(-3); Deacon Williams 18-93, TD; Darius Watson 7-65, TD; Ty Romance 2-2.
PASSING
NOR: Brendan Farrel 9-26-114-0-1.
PHX: Ty Romance 3-10-77-2-0.
RECEIVING
NOR: Amir Montanez 1-11; Jayden Byrd 3-30; Chris Wilson 1-12; Jaden Pratt 2-28; Meyon Ferrell 1-2; Rashon Giddens 1-31.
PHX: Jackson Ford 2-48, TD; James Lear III 1-29, TD.
INTERCEPTIONS
PHX: Kevin Kingsbury.
